Scrooged (4k Ultra HD)

“Celebrate the 35^th anniversary of an essential holiday classic, remastered for 4k Ultra HD and featuring hours of never-before-released special features. Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a modern-day “Scrooge” – a mean, nasty, uncaring, and unforgiving TV exec ready to unleash a live broadcast of A Christmas Carol around the world. But, before the night is over, he’ll be visited by his dead-as-a-doornail boss (John Forsythe), a maniacal cab driver from the past (David Johansen), a present-day fair packing punches (Carol Kane), and a ghoulish, seven-foot headless messenger from the future. Both hysterical and heartfelt, SCROOGED is an updated take on a familiar favorite. Yule love it!”

To this day, Bill Murray remains one of the most strange, eccentric and mysterious actors out there, from his rise to fame on the comedy scene, to his elusive public life, turning up in the most random of places all over the world to inject himself into the events of strangers. Whether it be tending bar, washing their dishes, or reading poetry, Bill Murray can appear where you least suspect. His broad display of social interactions are almost as equally impressive as his range as an actor, with his dramatic roles in films such as Lost in Translation and Broken Flowers just as good as some of his best comedic roles.

Scrooged, despite being based on A Christmas Carol, was basically a platform for Bill Murray to do whatever he wanted, and it shows. This can be good and bad, as Bill Murray unscripted can potentially lead to some brilliant comedic moments, which there are plenty of in Scrooged. Murray is obviously adlibbing, being himself, and according to behind-the-scenes and interviews with Murray himself, it’s exactly what he was allowed to do, with very little direction except to be ‘louder’. The film has a great modern-day take on the Charles Dickens story, with him being a television executive fitting for not only being a ruthless and cutthroat profession, but also a platform for heartless marketing and profit, a perfect combination for a Scrooge type character. This leads to some very funny moments, such as the opening sequence with all the promotional videos trying to sell Christmas to an eager television-glued customer base with outlandish Christmas themed stories, including terrorists attacking the North Pole with only Lee Majors to save the day. The film also has a stunning cast list, including Karen Allen, John Glover, Robert Mitchum, Bobcat Goldthwait, with a slew of other cameos as well as basically Bill Murray’s entire family.

I’ve always wanted to enjoy Scrooged much more than I actually do, since it is Bill Murray basically unleashed to do his own thing. The majority of the film just seems random, unhinged, with a lack of focus that bogs down a lot of the story. The adlibbing can be funny, unexpected, but a lot of the random lines and reactions to certain things are a bit over-the-top and can fall flat. According to Murray himself, there was so much material shot that didn’t make it into the film, it was a sloppy production, and it shows. There’s also the fact that when you have a character acting so over-the-top for laughs, you tend to not laugh with someone who’s a huge jerk who just fired someone on Christmas Eve.

Despite the lack of focus the film has throughout the majority of the film, there are quite a few funny moments, and that’s all thanks to Bill Murray and his acting and comedic style. A funny version of A Christmas Carol was indeed a bold direction, some of it worked, some didn’t, but what remains still manages to entertain a lot of people during the Christmas season. Like it or not, it’s still a staple film to watch during the holidays, and the world can’t have enough Bill Murray.

Video

Scrooged is presented in 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 featuring Dolby Vision. I was a bit worried before viewing the film after the fiasco that was Planes, Trains & Automobiles release from around the same time period with the heavy DNR that made everything a waxy, blurry mess. However, Scrooged looks incredible, and this is how transfers should be done. Film grain is kept intact, leaving a crisp, detailed image throughout the film. Colors are rich and vibrant, with the Dolby Vision ensuring each scene looks the best it can. If you’re a fan of the film and on the fence about it, the transfer alone should be worth the upgrade.

Audio

Audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This audio mix is the same as the previous Blu-ray release, so there isn’t anything new here. That being said, the sound overall has a great balance between the surrounds and center channel, which get utilized pretty heavily in a lot of the ghost sequences, and especially the opening with the guns and explosions during the raid on Santa’s workshop. Dialogue is clear and concise, a solid track with no real reason to create anything new for this UHD release.

Special Features

This set includes a Digital Code, but no Blu-ray copy, with extras included on the 4k disc. These are never before released supplemental materials, another perfect reason to upgrade if you’re a fan of the film. These include:

• Commentary by Director Richard Donner
• A Christmas to Remember
• Updating Ebenezer
• Bringing The Ghosts To Life
• The Look Of Scrooged
• On The Set With Bill Murray
• ShoWest Clips With Bill Murray

There really is nothing to not like about this Scrooged 4k release. A terrific transfer and extra special features never before seen (a rare thing these days), This release is out now, and the perfect time to pick it up to watch during the holidays. If you’re a fan of the film, this one is a must.